Ex garda admits driving conviction
A former garda today admitted at the Morris Tribunal that he had a conviction for driving without tax or insurance.
John O’Dowd, who was a key member of the investigation team into the death of cattle dealer Richie Barron in Raphoe, Co Donegal in 1996, said he had been convicted of the offence a decade earlier.
“I admit it, your honour,” he told Judge Frederick Morris.
The former garda admitted having one pint in a pub in Lifford, Co Donegal on the night Richie Barron’s body was found around 12 miles away in Raphoe. He and garda Padraic Mulligan were the first officers on the scene but have denied any involvement in the suspected hit-and-run.
Mr O’Dowd said he had ‘probably’ driven under the influence during his career but denied he had ever been convicted of the offence.
He challenged Donegal musician Mark McConnell, cross-examining, to withdraw the allegation against him.
“I want him to either withdraw it or put up and shut up,” he said.
Mr McConnell said he had ‘information’ but after the tribunal told him that Mr O’Dowd had no conviction for drink driving, he withdrew his statement.
However, he accused Mr O’Dowd of creating a ‘whirlwind of lies’ which led to his arrest, and that of his cousin Frank McBrearty Junior, in connection with the death of Richie Barron.
He said the former Garda had revisited witnesses whose statements showed that Mr McConnell was at pubs and cafes in Raphoe, when Mr Barron was killed on a road on the outskirts of the town.
“You were putting them under pressure to see if they would change their statements. You weren’t happy. You harassed two people in their house,” he said.
However, Mr O’Dowd said he had been well received by the two witnesses in question, Paul and Sue Quinn, when he visited them.
“I put pressure on nobody. We had tea in Quinns that day.”
He said he had been visiting the couple to re-check some point in their statement. He added that the statement he had taken was true and that it had supported Mr McConnell’s account.
Mr McConnell replied: “What you’re telling is a pack of lies. William Bogle (a local taxi driver) had confirmed it. You went out there to harass them.”
He added that both Paul and Sue Quinn would be prepared to testify to this before the tribunal.
Mr O’Dowd was sacked from the force last year following an internal disciplinary inquiry. He was the handler for the Garda informer William Doherty, who was blamed for putting pressure on a witness to make false statements against Frank McBrearty Junior and Mark McConnell.
Mr McConnell complained that legal representatives for the Garda commissioner had implied that his wife had attempted to influence the evidence of a witness, Wilma Laird. He agreed to submit his complaint in writing.
